by Dilly Court
Sarah’s face was a study in disbelief and amazement when Ruby walked into the living room followed by Jonas.
‘What’s he doing here?’ demanded Granny Mole. ‘And what’s Ruby doing dressed up like a dog’s dinner?’
‘Ma!’ Sarah said, shooting her a warning look. ‘You’ll have to excuse Ma, Mr Crowe, she says whatever comes into her head.’
‘I appreciate honesty,’ Jonas said, acknowledging Granny Mole’s comments with a nod and a smile. ‘No doubt you’ll be a bit curious yourself, Mrs Capretti.’
Sarah smiled but Ruby could see that her hands were plucking nervously at her apron and her eyes were wary. ‘I’m sure there must be a reasonable explanation for it, sir. Seeing as how you’ve brought Ruby home.’
‘Consider me a friend of the family,’ Jonas said, his voice smooth as buttercream. ‘I’ve taken Joe under my wing so to speak and now, with your permission, I’d like to take Ruby into my employ.’
‘You would?’ Sarah looked from Jonas to Ruby, frowning.
Meeting her mother’s anxious gaze, Ruby shrugged her shoulders. She had the uncomfortable feeling that the situation was spinning out of control, but what could she say, how could she explain without incriminating Joe?
‘As what?’ Granny Mole demanded, with a derisive snort. ‘In my day that would have meant just one thing.’
‘Ma!’ Sarah said, a dull flush suffusing her face. ‘Let Mr Crowe have his say.’
‘I understand your very natural concern, Mrs Mole,’ Jonas said, in a voice that sounded as if he had taken the cloth. ‘But we all know that Miss Ruby is wasting her talents working in Bronski’s sweatshop. I feel I owe it to her late father to offer her something more suitable to a young lady whose very worthy ambition it is to become a qualified nurse.’
‘Well, now!’ Sarah’s eyes opened wide and she sank down onto the nearest chair, wiping her face with her apron. ‘Well, I never did!’
‘Nor I, neither,’ added Granny Mole. ‘Sounds like a load of poppycock to me. A man like him’s got just one thing on his mind and it ain’t Florence Nightingale and her bleeding lamp.’
‘Ma!’ A turmoil of emotions from shock to suspicion flitted across Sarah’s face. ‘Mr Crowe, you’ll have to excuse Ma, but Ruby’s a good girl, sir. I trust your intentions is honourable.’
Jonas sat down beside Sarah, taking her hand in his. ‘You mustn’t worry, Mrs Capretti. I understand a mother’s feelings for her daughter and I can promise you that Ruby will come to no harm in my house.’
Ruby stared at Jonas in surprise. His mild manner and concerned expression seemed totally alien to the blustering, swaggering style that he normally adopted. What a strange mixture of people seemed to be rolled up in the person of Jonas Crowe; one moment a bully, a gang leader and a man feared by the toughest men in the East End, and yet here he was holding Mum’s hand and speaking in a mild way like a proper gent.
Jonas looked up, meeting Ruby’s eyes with the hint of a smile. ‘I want Ruby to nurse my poor wife in her battle with consumption. If you agree to Ruby coming to live in my house and taking up this employment, then I will personally see that she has free time to study her books on nursing. I can’t say fairer than that, now can I?’
‘Maybe you can’t,’ Granny Mole said, before Sarah had a chance to speak. ‘But if you takes Ruby away, who’s going to support me and my Sal now that Aldo has gone?’
‘Be quiet, Ma,’ Sarah said, shaking her head. ‘I’m sure Ruby won’t forget us and that Mr Crowe will treat her fair like any good employer.’
Jonas reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a fat wallet. He took out two crisp, white five-pound notes and placed them in Sarah’s hand, closing her fingers around them. ‘Consider that an advance on Ruby’s wages. I’m a generous man to those who serve me well.’
Sarah’s eyes widened and her mouth formed a circle of surprise, her lips working soundlessly. ‘More than generous, sir,’ she managed to gasp. ‘More than generous.’
Ruby knew she was trapped. It would take her a year to earn this much money at Bronski’s, and if she were to refuse now, then Mum and Gran would want to know the reason why and it would have to be a good one.
Jonas tucked his wallet back in his breast pocket. ‘Then I take it that you have no objections to Ruby coming to live in my establishment, Mrs Capretti?’
Sarah stared at the money for a moment as if struggling with the decision. Ruby could see that Mum was unsure, but she also knew that ten pounds would make life a whole lot easier for her mother and Granny Mole.
Sarah raised her eyes to Ruby’s face. ‘Ruby? Are you sure this is what you want?’
Somehow, she couldn’t do it. Ruby longed to cry out that she would rather die than be beholden to a man like Jonas Crowe, but there was Joe to consider and she couldn’t pitch her family into disgrace and undoubted poverty. She managed a smile. ‘Yes, Mum, I’m sure.’
Jonas got to his feet. ‘That’s settled then. Come along, Ruby. It’s time we went home to poor Lily.’
‘Lily’s your wife?’ Ruby said, as soon as the front door closed behind them. ‘You never said that you was married.’
Jonas opened the door to the passenger seat. ‘Hop in.’
‘Is she or isn’t she?’
‘Not in the eyes of the law.’
‘Then why did you lie about it?’
‘Do you think your mother would appreciate being told that I bought Lily from her villain of a father when she was just fourteen, half starved, beaten and up for sale to the highest bidder?’
Ruby swallowed hard, shaking her head. ‘No.’
‘And do you think your mother would let you come and work for me if she knew what sort of businesses I run?’
‘No.’
‘Then get in the motor car.’
‘No.’
‘No?’ Jonas’s eyebrows shot together and his mouth hardened into a straight line. ‘Is that all you can say?’
‘No, as a matter of fact I got quite a lot to say, but I ain’t in a position to argue with you, Mr Crowe.’
‘Good! Now get in the motor, please.’
‘No,’ Ruby said, squaring her shoulders. ‘I’ll work for you like you said and I’ll be happy to care for Lily, but I got terms I want met as well.’
‘You realise the whole street is watching this conversation and straining their ears to hear what we’re saying?’
Ignoring this remark, Ruby took a deep breath. ‘I’ll work hard for you but I want you to promise that no harm will come to Joe. We’ll pay you back his debt somehow or other but it’ll take time and I won’t leave until it is paid off. Have we got a bargain?’
His rigid expression melting into one of amusement, Jonas held out his hand. ‘You drive a hard bargain, Ruby Capretti.’
As they shook hands Ruby was conscious of a tingling sensation shooting up her arm, spiking in her chest and, when she snatched her hand free, she could still feel the impression of his fingers firmly gripping hers. She shivered.
‘Come along now,’ Jonas said, striding round the bonnet to the driver’s seat. ‘Get in before you freeze to death on the pavement.’
‘No,’ Ruby said, slamming the passenger door. ‘I got a few things to do. I’ll make me own way to Raven Street.’
‘You what?’ Jonas’s black brows drew together in an ominous scowl.
‘Don’t try and bully me, Mr Crowe,’ Ruby said, giving him look for look. ‘I got things to do and people what I need to see.’
His foot on the running board, Jonas glared at her, almost growling with anger. ‘What people?’
‘If you think I’m going to leave without making sure that Billy is coping all right then you got another think coming, and I got to see my friend at the hospital, not to mention letting old Bronski know that I ain’t coming back.’
‘What’s Billy Noakes got to do with you?’
‘It’s a long story.’
‘And who do you know at the hospital?’
Billy’s horse was not in the stable and the door to his room was firmly locked. Ruby was conscious that her smart appearance was attracting more attention than usual and this made her uncomfortable and wary. Young women dressed in expensive clothes did not usually walk round Whitechapel unaccompanied. She quickened her pace as she walked to Bronski’s, arriving in the middle of their afternoon tea break. Suddenly hungry and very thirsty, Ruby realised that she had had nothing to eat or drink since a cup of tea and a slice of toast at breakfast. If she had expected a warm welcome she was doomed to disappointment. One glance at her clothes and their smiles of welcome faded into suspicious sneers.
‘No need to tell us what you’ve come for, Ruby Capretti,’ Vinegar Lil said, arms folded across her flat chest. ‘I always knew as how Rosetta would end up bad and I can see you’re just the same.’
‘That’s not true,’ Ruby said, looking from one hostile face to the other. ‘I just come to say I got another job, and …’
‘And we all know what that is.’ Vinegar Lil’s nostrils flared. ‘Don’t we, girls?’ Stepping forward she fingered the pure wool merino of Ruby’s coat. ‘It would take more than a year’s wages to pay for a coat like this. You never got this from the pop shop and there’s only one way a girl like you could earn that sort of bees and honey, eh, girls?’
‘Flat on her back,’ chortled Mad Mabel.
‘Here, steady on.’ Big Biddy shot a sideways glance at Ruby with a hint of apology in her eyes. ‘Leave her be.’
‘Get off with you,’ Vinegar Lil said, giving Ruby a shove. ‘We don’t want your sort round here. You always thought yourself a cut above us anyhow, so clear off.’
‘It’s not true,’ Ruby said, turning to little Winnie, but she shrugged her shoulders and walked away.
‘Tart,’ carolled Mad Mabel, dancing up and down. ‘Stuck-up tart.’
With the unkind words ringing in her ears and biting back tears of humiliation, Ruby left Bronski’s hurrying blindly in the direction of the hospital. She found Billy sitting in the waiting room. He looked up and the pleasure in his eyes faded as he took in her changed appearance. Her heart sank; how could she explain the situation to Billy when she did not fully understand it herself?
‘Hello, Billy,’ she said, sitting down beside him. ‘How are you?’
‘What’s happened to you, Ruby? You robbed a bank or worse?’
‘Nothing like that.’
Billy frowned but was prevented from questioning her by Pamela popping her head out of the treatment room and calling his name. She spotted Ruby and gave her a cheery wave.
‘I’ll speak to you in a minute,’ Billy said, ominously, as he got to his feet.
‘Can’t stop now,’ Pamela called, smiling. ‘I’m due for a break soon. Do wait.’
Ruby sank back onto the hard wooden seat. At least Pamela didn’t seem to think the worst, not like everyone else, even Billy. Pamela had been so kind and helpful while Billy was really bad; she had been unfailingly patient when she had shown Ruby how to deal with Billy’s burns. She had been fun too. Pamela’s abundant good nature and bubbling sense of humour made her a joy to be with and Ruby knew that, for some strange reason, Pamela had taken a liking to her. Maybe it was because they laughed at the same things, evading the wrath of old fish-face, for instance. Maybe it was simply that Pamela was a thoroughly nice person with no side to her who seemed oblivious of the difference in their social standing. Ruby sat studying her hands, clenched in her lap; Pamela might behave differently towards her if she knew how she felt about Adam. Everything was so complicated – everything was going terribly wrong.
‘Hello, Ruby. How nice to see you again.’
Startled, Ruby looked up into the smiling face of Adam Fairfax.
Chapter Nine
Adam looked and sounded really pleased to see her but then, Ruby thought, being a proper gent, he’s probably like this with everyone. Hoping that he hadn’t noticed her blushes, Ruby returned his smile. ‘Hello, Dr Fairfax.’
‘Now that’s not fair,’ Adam said, sitting down beside her. ‘I can’t call you Ruby if you won’t call me Adam.’
‘Adam,’ Ruby repeated, savouring the sound like a mouthful of Fry’s Chocolate Crème.
‘I must say you look spiffing. Is that a new hat, by any chance?’
Ruby nodded. If he asked her how she had come by her new clothes she would be really stuck, but Adam was chatting away as if totally unaware that this type of outfit was normally well beyond her means.
‘I’ve spoken to Matron about you, Ruby.’
Ruby jumped. ‘Pardon?’
Adam smiled. ‘She’s willing to see you, that’s if you still want to become a nurse.’
‘Yes – of course, I do.’
‘I wasn’t sure. I mean, you look so prosperous, I thought that you must have found yourself a new position.’
‘I – well, yes.’
‘But you still want to study nursing?’
‘Oh, yes. I really do, it’s just that I’ve been taken on by a gentleman with a sick wife. He wants me to nurse her but he says as how I can train to be a proper nurse in me spare time.’
Adam slapped his hands on his knees. ‘Excellent. Although I think Matron might not like the idea of you studying in your spare time. However, we’ll deal with that particular problem when we come to it. The first thing is to get you an interview with Miss Luckes.’
‘Dr Fairfax, you’re wanted on the ward round.’ A ward sister came bustling over to them, bristling with efficiency.
‘Coming, Sister.’ Jumping to his feet, Adam gave Ruby an encouraging smile. ‘I have to go, Ruby, but if you give Pam your new address I’ll let you know when Matron can see you.’
Drowning in his smile, Ruby nodded, unable to speak. She watched him stride away into the depths of the hospital followed by a group of nurses fluttering after him like grey moths. Allowing herself to dream, Ruby imagined herself standing at Adam’s side, helping him in his life’s work of treating the sick and saving lives. The real world came crashing back as Billy erupted from the treatment room and came storming towards her, his face dark with suspicion.
‘What’s going on, Ruby?’
‘Don’t bully the poor girl,’ Pamela said, coming up behind him. ‘Ruby’s been an absolute brick, looking after you when you were sick and helpless.’
Pushing a lock of hair back off his forehead with a bandaged hand, Billy grinned sheepishly. ‘I know that, but something’s up. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rosetta walked in here dressed up to the nines, but not Ruby.’
‘I’d say that was Ruby’s business.’
‘Stop talking about me like I wasn’t here,’ Ruby said, jumping to her feet. ‘As it happens, I’ve come up in the world. I’ve been taken on to look after a poor lady sick with consumption.’
‘She must be rich,’ Billy said, staring pointedly at Ruby’s clothes and scowling. ‘Who is this old girl anyway?’
‘You don’t know her.’
Pamela slipped her arm around Ruby’s shoulder. ‘I say, good for you. You deserve better than slaving away in that horrible place making cheap clothes.’
‘A rich lady who togs you out in new clobber?’ Billy shook his head. ‘Come on, girl, this stuff never come from Petticoat Lane.’
‘You got no right to question me,’ Ruby said, standing her ground. ‘I ain’t nothing to you, Billy, except a friend, so mind your own business.’
‘Never mind him,’ Pamela put in hurriedly before Billy had time to retaliate. ‘I’ve got to get back on duty before old fish-face notices I’m not actually working. Let me have your new address, Ruby, and I’ll come to call on you.’
Turning her back on Billy, Ruby whispered the address.
‘Raven Street,’ Pamela said, frowning. �
�That’s Shoreditch, isn’t it?’
‘Yes,’ Ruby said, glancing anxiously over her shoulder to see if Billy had heard. Judging by the expression on his face, he had.
‘Nurse Chadwick, get back to work.’ Sister’s voice echoed down the corridor.
‘I’m in for it now. I’ll see you soon, Ruby; we must keep in touch.’ Pamela hurried away in the direction of the treatment rooms.
Ruby turned to go but Billy barred her way. ‘That was Crowe’s address.’
‘Like I said, it’s none of your business.’ Pushing past him, Ruby hurried out of the hospital. She ran to the edge of the pavement, looking up and down Whitechapel Road, praying that a passing hansom cab would stop and save her from embarrassing explanations. But her luck was out and Billy caught up with her, grabbing her by the arm.
‘You don’t know what you’re getting into, Ruby.’
‘Look, Billy, you’ve been good to me and my family but this don’t concern you.’ Snatching her arm free, Ruby waved frantically at the driver as a cab pulled up to drop off a fare. The London particular was creeping through the City like a thief, stealing the daylight and replacing it with a choking, smoky-green pall. Ruby leapt into the cab. ‘Raven Street, please.’
Ruby had a room of her own just down the corridor from Lily’s bedroom, linked by an electric bell so that Lily could summon her if she wanted something in the night. At first, Ruby was nervous of the bell, jumping when it rang and avoiding touching it fearing an electric shock. Gradually overcoming her fear of mighty electric power, now she could not resist switching her bedroom light on and off every time she went into her room, just for the pleasure of seeing it work. Mum still thought that gaslight was a minor miracle, and just having it in Tobacco Court made them a cut above the candlelit world of Spivey Street; Ruby couldn’t help wondering how she would cope with electricity. With the luxury of a lamp on her bedside table, Ruby was able to study her medical books at night, although by now they were so well worn and dog-eared that the pages kept falling out and she knew each chapter almost by heart.
